The “hammer” used in the hammer throw is not actually a hammer at all but a shot-put ball which is attached to a wire. To gain momentum to help them throw further, the athlete spins around before releasing it.
The technique
As with the shot put and discus, the athlete begins with their back to the direction of the throw and then spins around – sometimes up to 4 times – before release. The hammer has no aerodynamic qualities so it is perhaps surprising that it can fly over 80m. As in the discus this event needs to be surrounded by protective netting to be conducted safely, and the athlete is also permitted to wear a glove.
Hammer throwers tend to be shorter than other throwers and more squat in build. Theirs is probably the most frightening event of all to attempt as one can easily lose control of the implement and can fall over in the act of trying to hold onto it!
The women’s event, which has only been part of the Olympic programme for 15 years, is ever improving, with the 2009 World Championships seeing a world record being broken.
Statistics
From 1980-86 the men's world record was dominated by Russian hammer-throwers Yuriy Sedykh and Sergey Litvinov, sometimes with new records being set and then broken during the same event. Sedykh had the last word, setting the current record of 86.74m in August 1986.
The women’s world record is 77.996m, set by Polish athlete Anita Wlodarczyk to win the 2009 world title.